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Hospitality Management

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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Administered by the Department of Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management

The Hospitality Management program offers study for the degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in hospitality management. As the only 4-year hospitality program in the state of Iowa, the program prepares undergraduate students with essential principles of managing a variety of hospitality organizations, such as hotels, restaurants, clubs, and foodservice companies. Students also develop expertise in managing diverse areas, such as: (a) food/beverage management, (b) lodging management, (c) senior living management, and (d) tourism and attractions.  

Students get hands-on experience at the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom and SPARKS. The Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom is a 105-seat learning laboratory where students take responsibility for meal preparation and service. The Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom is the earliest established student run restaurant that is still in operation on a college campus in the United States. SPARKS is the student operated café in the Student Innovation Center, where students have the opportunity to manage all the operations of the facility from menu development, inventory, human resources, and much more.

Our students participate in internships locally, nationally, and internationally with a range of hotels, restaurants, caterers, theme parks, sports facilities, cruise ships convention and visitor’s bureaus, independent businesses, and country clubs. Courses provide students with opportunities to develop and apply management techniques in hospitality organizations. The Hospitality Management curriculum provides students with the opportunity to obtain professional certifications in multiple areas.

The Hospitality Management program mission is to create, share, and apply knowledge to provide hospitality consumers with products, services, and experiences to enhance overall well-being. We accomplish our mission with a personalized, nationally ranked program. Our students learn in a nurturing, safe, and inclusive environment, with caring faculty with industry experience. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students should be able to:

  1. Prepare, maintain, analyze, and utilize financial documents and data related to foodservice and lodging organizations.
  2. Plan, organize, coordinate, develop, and evaluate the human resources of foodservice and lodging organizations.
  3. Implement operational sales and marketing techniques in foodservice and lodging organizations.
  4. Use technology to achieve operational efficiency and productivity in foodservice and lodging organizations
  5. Make decisions based on integrating knowledge of functional areas for managing foodservice and lodging organizations.
  6. Demonstrate leadership and entrepreneurial characteristics and professional behaviors.
  7. Use appropriate professional written and oral communication skills.
  8. Demonstrate best practices in the operation of foodservice and lodging organizations to meet customer expectations.
  9. Obtain food protection manager certification.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDY

The program offers a Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality management. Coursework is planned to provide students with a general education plus professional preparation for supervisory and executive positions in hospitality organizations such as clubs, hotels, dining, theme parks, cruise lines, and casinos. Principles of business management are presented, as well as fundamentals of hospitality operations.

Graduates demonstrate leadership characteristics and make decisions based on integrating knowledge of financial, human resources, marketing, and operational principles for managing hospitality operations. They demonstrate best practices in meeting customer expectations and use of technology (e.g., Point-of-Sales systems, property management systems, and revenue management systems) to achieve operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Learning experiences are provided in the food and beverage, casino, lodging, senior living, and tourism industries and other approved establishments. Students are required to have a total of at least 800 hours of relevant work experience prior to graduation. Of the 800 hours, 200 hours are required prior to completing one year in the program.

The Bachelor of Science Degree

Total credits required: 123, including a minimum of 18 credits from the AESHM Department at Iowa State University for the degree. 

The program offers a concurrent B.S. and M.S. degree that allows students to obtain a B.S. and M.S. degree in hospitality management in five years.  Application for admission to the Graduate College should be made in the junior year.

Minor in Hospitality Management

The Hospitality Management minor (HSP M) requires the completion of at least 15 credits from the Hospitality Management curriculum. The minor must include at least 6 credits in courses numbered 300 or above taken at ISU. All course pre-requisites must be completed prior to taking the course. All minor courses must be taken for a grade.

Minor in Beverage Management

The Beverage Management minor (BV M) requires the completion of at least 15 credits from the Beverage Management minor curriculum. The minor must include at least 6 credits in HSP M courses and 6 credits in courses numbered 300 or above taken at ISU. All course pre-requisites must be completed prior to taking the course. All minor courses must be taken for a grade.